Search Engine Optimization and New Websites: 10 Things to Remember
By: Seomul Evans
Submitted: 2010-02-20 10:27:44 | Word Count: 640
Creating a new website can be exciting and fun. Just remember that it can also be challenging as it takes time for your search engine optimization efforts to get results. Here are ten things to remember as you promote your website.
1. Keywords. Make sure your keywords are in all the appropriate places on your website. This means that they’re included in your content and in your meta tags. Along with keywords, ensure that your site architecture is search engine friendly as well. If you don’t have a site map then add one right away and make sure search engines are blocked from indexing your site by Flash or by navigation that uses only images.
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2. Press Releases. One great way to get the word out about your website is sending press releases. There are several aggregators to which you can send your release, one of which is PRWeb. Your press release should include a link to your website, and your target phrase should also be hyperlinked.
3. Submit to Search Engines. Search engines have evolved enormously since the days when submitting your website to a search engine made a difference in the amount of time it took a search engine to find your website. If it gives you some peace of mind then by all means submit your site to the search engine, but only do it once. What you should submit, however, is an XML sitemap. If you’re not sure how to create an XML sitemap, there are plenty of tools available online.
4. Submit to Directories. The key to submitting to directories is to ensure that you only submit to the most relevant categories. The idea behind submitting to a directory is that the search engines will give you credit for a backlink to your website, and the way to really add value to the backlink is to make sure it comes from a site that the search engine consider authoritative. DMOZ is still considered authoritative by many search engines.
5. Build Links. Backlinks are among the most valuable search engine optimization tools. Search engines view inbound links to your website as ‘votes’ for your site. The more votes you have, the more value the search engines assign to your website. There are multiple ways to building links to your site so do a little research and start building.
6. Market Your Articles. Article marketing is a great way to promote your business and get inbound links all at the same time. Article marketing allows you to establish yourself as an authority in your niche market and you get credit for an inbound link each time another person posts your article on his or her site.
7. Social Media. Social media is widely accepted as a great way to market online businesses even thought it is still very new as a marketing tool. Pick two or three popular social networking sites and create profiles. You could use Facebook to build a community of people interested in your product or service, or you could use YouTube to upload videos about what you have to offer. Not only do you get backlinks to your site from these profiles, but you also help get the word out about you and your business. Social media can seem daunting because it is more subjective than directory submission or keyword research, but it’s a great way to benefit from the online communities that are available.
If you’re looking for more ideas on how to promote your website, or if you need help creating an overall internet marketing strategy for your business, consult with an internet marketer or search engine optimization professional. They can help you promote your website and create a marketing plan that will get your name in front of your target audience, increase your search engine ranking, and drive traffic to your website.
